Dr. Spears has extensive experience in the tourism industry including various positions at the MGM Grand Casino, Hotel, and Theme Park, Rado-Mat Holdings and academic institutions. He worked and trained with several organizations throughout the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Spears also served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic.

Dr. Spears is currently Associate Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management at UNT and Visiting & Affiliate Professor of International Sustainable Tourism at CATIE (Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza) in Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica. He teaches and conducts research in the areas of international tourist consumption and activity behavior, services marketing, and sustainability and development. Dr. Spears has published over 25 peer reviewed academic journal articles, appearing in the management and marketing discipline. He has been published and presented in over 60 academic conferences. He also works as a consultant assisting in the development of tourism assessments, development plans, marketing plan(s), and tourism exit surveys and methodologies for several organizations and government agencies.